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A small group of women in colorful shirts, jeans and skirts stands in a circle, singing and clapping. Some are smiling. All are dancing, shaking their bodies to the sound of their voices strong and loud.

Facebook images of an Israeli servicewoman posing with blindfolded Palestinians have caused a storm. Now two former female conscripts have spoken out about their own experiences.

As Hamas cracks down on the rights of Palestinian women in the Gaza Strip, their sisters in the occupied West Bank are slowly gaining ground. But a bureaucracy, that is sometimes supported by foreign aid, is crippling these advances.

"The African Union has declared 2010 the Year of Peace and Security in Africa, and will soon launch the African Decade of Women. What better opportunity to act on these pledges than at the 15th African Union Summit, being held later this month in Kampala, Uganda? The upcoming referendum in Sudan gives African leadership an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to improving the lives of women on this continent by ensuring that they actively and freely participate in the referendum.

In Pakistan, grassroots women’s groups have stepped into leadership roles to ensure that women are safe and secure, that women’s needs are met and their voices are heard, and that aid is distributed effectively and equitably. Last week, UAF funded a request from Grassroots in Action (GIA) in Peshawar. GIA observed that in natural disaster situations, women and children do not have the same access to humanitarian aid as men do...Please donate now to help UAF support women’s organizations in Pakistan.

The Directory captures the diversity and richness of the many groups and people of good will in the world campaigning for the equal rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex people.

UNIFEM seeks to sub-contract a consultant(s), organization, network or coalition to develop a knowledge module on 1)“Coordinated Responses to Address Violence against Women and Girls”. The focus of the module is to provide ‘state-of-the-art’ how-to guidance on coordinated responses to address violence against women and girls (including at national, sub-national and community levels). UNIFEM also seeks to sub-contract a consultant(s), organization, network or coalition to develop a knowledge module on 2) “Shelters and Safe Spaces for Women and Girls at Risk of or Survivors of Violence”. Deadline for both proposals: September 15, 2010.

The Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Family Planning Organization of the Philippines is calling for applications to participate in a workshop on the Young People’s Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Poverty Reduction Strategies in the Philippines. This 4-day training will bring together approximately 12 Filipino youth activists who will use a youth, sexual and reproductive lens to analyze the National Development Plan (NDP) of the Philippines. Participants will gain knowledge on the NDP process and how to more effectively advocate for the integration of young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights into the national development framework. Deadline for applications: September 16, 2010.

The workshop will explore the intersection between food systems, gender and environment, looking at the multiple links between food, gender and environment through a series of lectures, laboratories and field trips. The workshop will be run by well known international gender experts included Wendy Harcourt as part of their efforts to build a European wide network to encourage greater awareness of ‘slow food’, traditional cuisine and how to appreciate the importance of women’s roles in food production and culture. Deadline for applications: September 13, 2010.

" 'Solidarity' was not created as a result of the lone fight of a few men. It was the outcome of the collective effort of many people, both men and women. In August 1980 women played a crucial role in initiating free trade unions, they worked in strike committees, they publicly and courageously demonstrated their convictions and support for "Solidarity”. Alina Pienkowska and Anna Walentynowicz averted the looming collapse of the strike by exhausted workers in the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk. After 'Solidarity' was delegalized many women were repressed and arrested. Some, who were abroad, started working for supporting the opposition in Poland, set up organizations and groups for that purpose..."